My task, and I have accepted it, is to sort through, catalog, digitize, and distribute the effects of Karen’s grandparents and parents, my parents, and that which Karen and I have accumulated during our lives–before and now while married.

In the effects of Karen’s grandparents, is a 1904 version of “Hurlbut’s Story of the Bible.” the following is printed at the beginning of this more than 800 page book, “Entered according to act of Congress in the year 1904 by W. E. Scull, in the office of the librarian of Congress at Washington DC. All rights reserved.”

“New edition from new plates. Having sold over 200,000 copies of this work and finding an ever-increasing demand for it, the publishers have reset the entire book, incorporating the pronouncing feature so popular in the “International Bible Series.”

“To the young people of America: this book is dedicated, in hope that it may interest them in the reading of THE BEST OF ALL BOOKS.”

Introduction: The purpose and plan of this book. Some years ago, the editor of an English magazine sent a communication to “the hundred greatest men in Great Britain” asking them this question: “If for any reason you were to spend a year absolutely alone and could select from your library three volumes to be taken with you as companions for your period of retirement, please to inform us what those three books would be.” The inquiry was sent to peers of the realm, prominent leaders in politics, judges, authors, manufacturers, merchants, gentlemen of leisure–men who would represent every aspect of successful life. In the answers it was found that 98 of the 100 men named “The Bible” first on the list of the three books to be chosen.

There is no other book in all the world which commands annually a circulation of 10 million copies in order to supply the demand for it in every land and in every language. Choose if you please the new novel that last year sold the largest number of copies, and you will find during the same year more than 10 times the number of Bibles were sold. And three years from now, when the new novel will be old, forgotten, and no longer in demand, there will again be 10 million Bibles in 325 languages printed and bound and sold in the year!

Those who in early life learn the story of the Bible are fortunate, for they will never forget it.

Unfortunately, this book is falling apart and is in extremely poor condition making it nearly impossible to handle without it crumbling in my fingers, and many copies in better condition available, I will with sadness relegate the book to the recyclers.